Guthrie update: Search intensifies for Nancy Guthrie as investigators pursue new tips
The search for Nancy Guthrie, 84, entered its 12th day on Thursday, February 12, 2026, with investigators saying they have received a flood of public tips and are expanding their push for home-security footage beyond the night she vanished. The case has drawn national attention because Nancy Guthrie is the mother of television anchor Savannah Guthrie, but authorities have stressed the investigation remains focused on locating Nancy safely and identifying anyone responsible.
Officials continue to treat the Catalina Foothills neighborhood near Tucson, Arizona, as the center of the investigation, after evidence at the home suggested a crime occurred.
What authorities say happened
Nancy Guthrie was reported missing after a troubling sequence of events around her home late January 31 into the early hours of February 1. Investigators previously said evidence at the residence included signs of forced entry and blood later confirmed to match Nancy Guthrie’s DNA. They have described her as having mobility limitations and needing daily medication, which has raised concerns about the urgency of finding her quickly.
A key development this week was the release of video showing a masked individual on the porch near the time of the disappearance. Investigators described the person as armed and appearing to tamper with the home’s doorbell camera, a detail that has reshaped public focus toward abduction rather than a voluntary disappearance.
Video, gloves, and the growing evidence trail
Investigators say the newly released footage has generated a wave of leads—more than 18,000 tips overall—with a surge after the images became public. Authorities have also recovered black gloves in the vicinity of the home and said the items are being tested for DNA.
On Thursday morning, unmarked vehicles returned to the property and a large canopy was seen blocking the front entrance, a move often used to shield sensitive investigative work from public view. Officials have not publicly said what, if anything, was recovered during the latest activity at the residence, and they have indicated they will provide broader updates only if there are significant developments.
Detained and released: where the inquiry stands
A man stopped during a traffic encounter in Rio Rico, Arizona, was detained for questioning earlier this week and later released without charges. Investigators have not named any suspect publicly and have cautioned that no one has been ruled out at this stage.
Authorities have also acknowledged receiving ransom-style communications demanding cryptocurrency. The authenticity of those messages is unclear at this time, and investigators have not confirmed any verified contact from a credible kidnapper. The uncertainty has complicated the information environment around the case and increased the importance of verifiable tips, video, and physical evidence.
New request: neighbors asked to check earlier footage
Investigators have widened their request for neighborhood camera footage beyond the narrow window around February 1. In an update Thursday, they asked residents to review recordings from January 11 and January 31 as well, suggesting authorities are exploring whether surveillance or “casing” behavior may have occurred well before the disappearance.
That expanded timeframe signals a shift from a single-night event reconstruction toward a broader pattern search: who was near the house days or weeks beforehand, what vehicles repeatedly appeared, and whether the masked individual seen on the porch had been present earlier.
Key facts at a glance
| Item | Latest public detail |
|---|---|
| Missing person | Nancy Guthrie, 84 |
| Location focus | Catalina Foothills area near Tucson, Arizona |
| Tip volume | Roughly 18,000-plus tips received |
| Evidence noted | Blood at home matched to Nancy; gloves recovered for DNA testing |
| Video detail | Masked, armed individual appears to tamper with doorbell camera |
| Ransom claims | Cryptocurrency demands received; authenticity not publicly confirmed |
What happens next
With no public confirmation of a suspect, the near-term path appears centered on three tracks: analyzing physical evidence (including DNA testing), mapping the masked individual’s movements through any available neighborhood footage, and triaging the enormous volume of tips for actionable, corroborated information.
A major inflection point would be identification of the person seen on the porch, either through clearer footage, forensic linkage, or a tip that can be independently verified. Until then, investigators are likely to keep pressure on the immediate area around the home while also widening the net for earlier sightings and patterns that could explain how Nancy Guthrie was targeted—and where she may have been taken.
